Question

Explain the functioning of the administration.

Answer 1

The Administrative System
National (Central Government)
↓
State (State Government)
↓
Local Government
Urban	Rural
↓	↓
Municipal Corporations/ Municipal Councils/ Cantonment Boards	District: Zilla Parishad
	↓
	Block : Panchayat Samiti
	↓
	Village : Gram Panchayat

1. At the national level, the work of the Central Government is conducted by various ministries (departments). For example, there are ministries of Agriculture, Health, Home, Defence, etc. Each ministry (or department) is headed by a Minister. Below the Minister is the bureaucracy or the administrative machinery. Besides the ministries, there are such institutions as the Election Commission, Union Public Service Commission. NITI Aayog, etc. These also require administrators or bureaucracy.
2. At the State level also, there are various ministries and commissions that do the work of the government. The ministries of the State are also headed by a Minister and staffed by the bureaucracy.
3. At the local level, the administration is of two types: urban and rural administration. At the district level, the highest administrative officer is the collector. In large cities, the Municipal Commissioner is in charge of the Municipality or Municipal Corporation. In rural areas, at the level of the Tehsil, the Tehsildar looks after the administration.
4. There is a close link between the political leadership and the administrative machinery. At the national, state levels and local levels, the political leaders are closely linked to the administrative machinery.
5. The recruitment for all administrative posts at all levels is done through competitive examinations conducted by the government. At the central government level, the UPSC and Staff Selection Commission are the bodies that conduct these examinations.